Three university organizations receive grants

 Three University of Nebraska-Lincoln programs have received financial support from a community organization.

In December, the Mary Riepma Ross Media Arts Center, the Textiles, Clothing and Design department and the E.N. Thompson Forum on World Issues were awarded grants from the Cooper Foundation, a grant-making foundation in Lincoln that supports nonprofit organizations.

The textiles department received $3,000 for its exhibition "The Black Ocean: Europe-Africa-America" by French artist William Wilson. The grant will help cover Wilson's flights to and from France, shipping the artwork to Lincoln and the fee that comes with showing the work, said Michael James, chairman of the department. The department will also be working with Lincoln Public Schools to have Wilson speak to students.

"The arts is one of our priorities," said Victoria Kovar, program officer for the Cooper Foundation. "It's a really exciting exhibition."

The $9,421 for the E.N. Thompson Forum came as no surprise, as the Cooper Foundation has been a partner for the forum since its inception in 1988. The foundation has a special fund set up specifically for the forum, Kovar said, and also awards it a separate grant each year.

For the Ross Center, which received a $7,500 grant, the money will be used to assist in operating costs, which include staff salaries, advertising, maintenance and film rental. The theater lost more than $50,000 from the university this summer during budget cuts.

"I wouldn't say it's been devastating, but it's been quite the obstacle to overcome," said Danny Ladely, director of the Ross Center. "We're now much more self-supporting."

Kovar said the foundation has supported the theater for many years, and described it as "a vital cultural agency" for Lincoln.

"We've gotten several grants from the Cooper Foundation," Ladely said. "I hope this isn't the last."

katiesteiner@dailynebraskan.com